Abstract
‘ The metaphor of transmission’ (cognition-transmission model), which is a root metaphor of contemporary primatology, was reconsidered and deconstructed by referring to other academic domains such as anthropology, communication study, psychology and cognitive science. Instead, I introduced another epistemological standpoint, action-practice model, based on the ‘ situated action’ approach, in order to expand the perspective of contemporary ‘ cultural primatology’ and to understand the relationship comprehensively between primate culture and sociality.
From this standpoint, I analyzed social interactions along ant-fishing among wild chimpanzees at Mahale, Tanzania. Some situated characters of their social practice, such as attitude depending on others’ actions, moderate exploring proposition to others, and direct reaction to such propositions, were considered to be important to realize such social situation of ant-fishing as a cultural practice of chimpanzees.
